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I was out looking at my boxes last night, thinning a few extra seedlings that had come up, when I noticed all these little holes in the leaves of just about all my brassica's. Ugh! Fighting pests already I had never seen these little critters and at first could not figure out what the heck they where. I took a couple of pictures, but they came out really blurry. I then tried to catch a couple of these little bugs and noticed they jumped exactly like fleas! So I came in and did a few google searches and discovered what I had was flea beetles. Unfortunately, most of the trap plants for these critters are what I'm trying to grow Typically in the past, I would have headed straight for the barn and grabbed the 7 dust...Since joining this site, I'm really trying to change some of my old ways. Treating for pests is one of them. Not only for my families health, but also because our neighbors raise bees. I'm really trying to turn over a new leaf here! I've searched a little bit, but curious what other's have used successfully to treat these pests. Camp, I don't want to harm your bees. Is Neem a safe alternative? I'm open to suggestions here

Flea beetles are one of the most difficult-to-manage pests of eggplant and cole crops.

Just my luck

Think I'll start with the Neem

Really It gets better!!! There are some really good ideas and techniques here. It's tougher on the little plants, once they get bigger, the plants have a good chance of recovery but don't have that 'supermarket' unblemished look. Row cover is probably the best option for small seedlings/transplants. Hang tough Rooster!

@ Rooster......I just stuck the covers over them and hoped for the best. It worked. Maybe the flea beetles were elsewhere during the day and couldn't find the cabbages when they came back. I don't know where they went.

Roo.....Talk about a relentless wind......it ripped the flaps on the south side loose last nite on my A-frame right from under the clips, yet the row cover over the brassicas held down with clothespins on wire clothes hangers, held fine.....with an old beach towel tossed over it. Its another windy day today and tonite will be in the mid 20s so another coldddd nite for me. I'm keeping my cauliflowers I'm trying to harden off and my pots of herbs inside for the day and nite.